Rocker fixture



M. F OX ROCKER FIXTURE sept. 11, 1962 Filed Jan. 5, 1961 M. FOX

ROCKER FIXTURE Sept. 11, 1962 Filed Jan. 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. FOX

ROCKER FIXTURE Sept. 11, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 5, 1961 United States Patent Office Pafented Sept. 11, 11362` 3,053,570 ROCKER FIXTURE Martin Fox, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Seng Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 80,899 16 Claims. (Cl. 297-263) This invention relates to a rocker fixture, and more particularly to a platform chair rocker 'fixture and a rocker component thereof.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a rocker fixture having a rocker member supported in a simple and effective manner for limited rocking movement on a base.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rocker fixture having a rocker member with lan arcuate flange supported for rocking movement on a base having an abutment overlying a part of the rocker member, and preferably the arcuate flange, to limit the rocking movement of the rocker member on the base.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a platform rocker fixture having a sheet metal base with laterally spaced upright, confining flanges, a pair of rocker members having upright webs with arcuate flanges extending transversely from lower portions thereof and supported on the base adjacent the confining flanges, with abutments on the confining flanges overlying the arcuate flanges to limit rocking movement of the rocker members thereon, and means urging the rocker members to a predetermined centered position.

A further object f this invention is to provide a rocker member having flanges extending in opposite directions from a web, and one of the flanges being arcuate and having a convex outer face.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sheet metal rocker member having a web with opposite ends, `a flange on each of the ends, the flanges extending in opposite directions from the body, a first of the flanges being arcuate with a convex outer face, and means on a second of the flanges for attaching the rocker member to a chair.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary end view of a platform rocker in which a platform rocker fixture is attached between :a platform base and a chair;

fFIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view with the chair removed for clearer illustration;

IFIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical side section taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2, illustrating the platform rocker in the upright position;

'FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective View of a portion of a base of the platform rocker fixture;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, vertical side section, similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating the platform rocker in an inclined position;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertical section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a rocker member of the platform rocker fixture.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a platform rocker fixture 10 is positioned between a suitable chair platform 11 and a chair 12, for rocking movement of the chair back and forth on the platform.

The rocker xture 10 includes three main portions.Y One portion is a base 13 secured to the chair platform 11 in any suitable manner. rifhe sceond portion is in the form of a pair of rocker members 14 lsuitably secured to the chair 12 for free rocking movement of the chair through a substantial are, on the platform. The third portion comprises spiral springs 15 received between the base 13 and.

the rocker members 14 for resiliently resisting rocking movement and urging the chair to an upright position. Means are provided for interlocking the rocker members 14 and the base 13, and for limiting the arc of backward and forward rocking movement of the rocker members on the base. In the illustrated embodiment these means include abutments 16 on the base 13 overlying and selectively engaging part of the rocker members, and specifically arcuate flanges 17 on the rocker members 14. These three portions of the rocker fixture 10 may take various forms and be arranged in numerous different ways and the invention will be herein described as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 3 or 5 of the drawings, the chair platform 11 includes a swivel iron 18, which may be of any suitable construction, and has a bottom plate 18a connected, as by rivets or bolts, to downwardly extending legs 19. Rotatably mounted on the bottom plate by a center pin 18h is a turntable plate 18C which in the present embodiment has integrally formed Itherewith the rocker fixture base 13. Easy rotation ofthe turntable plate 18e is provided by ball bearings in a race formed by cooperating circular grooves in the bottom plate 18a and turntable plate 18C.

Base 13 has a horizontal body or web 20 with the upper ball race groove formed therein. Upright, parallel, confining flanges 21 are integral with and laterally spaced from each other on opposite sides of the web 20, for limiting lateral movement o-f the rocker member as Will be apparent hereinafter. The abutments 16 are preferably in the form of inwardly extending protrusions integral in the upright confining flanges 21, each overlying an opposite arcuate flange 17 of the rocker arms 14, and dening stops which concomitantly engage the respective arcuate flanges to limit rocking movement of the chair 12 back and forth on the chair platform 11. 'I'he spacing between the inner extremities of the abutments 16 is less than the corresponding spacing between the outer extremities of the arcuate flanges 17 adjacent the abutments so that rocker members 14 are thereby retained on the base 13 and cannot be vertically lifted therefrom or rocked so far `as to tip off the base. Extending upwardly from opposite end edges of the base web 20 are inwardly curved reinforcing flanges for strengthening the base. The base 13 may be of any suitable material and in the illustrated embodiment is preferably of sheet metal, such as sheet steel.

As best seen in FIGURE 7, each rocker member 14 has -an upright web 22 from the bottom of which arcuate flange 17 extends outwardly, and from the top of which a second, or mounting flange 23 extends inwardly. The mounting flanges 23 have means in the form of holes receiving suitable fasteners, such as bolts, for attaching the respective rocker members to the bottom of the chair 12. Third flanges 24 extend upwardly from the inner ends of the second flanges 23.

Cooperating means on the second and third flanges, in the form of slots 24a, bosses 25, and tabs 26, anchor adjacent ends of the spiral springs 15 to the rocker members 14. Anchoring of the lower ends of the springs 15 is provided by similar means of inverted dish-shaped members 27 attached to the web 20 of base 13 in any suitable manner, for example, by fasteners such as rivets or bolts 28. The means for anchoring fthe ends of the springs to the base 13 `and rocker members 14 have been but briefly described because a full disclosure may be had by reference to my prior United States Patent 2,871,916. In addition to normally maintaining the chair 12 in an upright position, and the rocker members 14 in a predetermined centered position, the springs also tend to maintain the rocker members, and therefore the chair,

3 centered on the base 13. Lateral retention of the rocker members 14 and chair 12 on the base 13 is further assured by the confining flanges 21 of the base which may abut the outer edges of the arcuate flanges 17.

The rocker members 14 may be of any suitable material and in the preferred embodiment are preferably of sheet metal, such 4as sheet steel, in keeping with the material of the base 13.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A rocker fixture for furniture, comprising: a base having laterally spaced confining flanges; a pair of rocker members having arcuate flanges supported on said base adjacent said confining flanges for free rocking movement through a substantial arc; and an abutment on said base overlying and selectively engaging at least one rocker member for limiting the arc of rocking movement of said rocker members.

2. A rocker fixture for lfurniture, comprising: a base having laterally spaced confining flanges; a pair of rocker members having arcuate flanges supported on said base adjacent said confining flanges for free rocking movement through a substantial arc; abutments on said base overlying and selectively engaging said rocker members, said confining flanges limiting lateral movement of said rocker members and said abutments limiting the arc of rocking movement thereof; and means urging said rocker members to a predetermined centered position.

3. A platform rocker fixture for furniture, comprising: a base having laterally spaced upright confining flanges; a pair of rocker members having upright webs with lower portions; arcuate flanges extending transversely from said lower portions of said webs and supported on said base adjacent said confining flanges; abutments on said confining flanges overlying and selectively engaging said arcuate flanges, said confining flanges and said abutments limiting lateral and rocking movement of said rocker members; second flanges on said webs spaced from said arcuate flanges; and spiral springs anchored on said second flanges and said base for urging said rocker members to a predetermined centered position.

4. A platform rocker fixture for furniture, comprising: a chair platform adapted to be received on a floor, said chair platform having a portion in the form of a base, said base having laterally spaced, parallel, confining flanges; a pair of laterally spaced, parallel rocker members for attachment to the bottom of a chair, said rocker members having arcuate flanges supported on said base adjacent said confining flanges; abutments on said conlining flanges and overlying and selectively engaging said arcuate flanges, said confining flanges and said abutments limiting lateral and rocking movement of said rocker members; second flanges on said rocker members; and springs anchored on said second flanges and said base for urging said chair into an upright position.

5. A platform rocker fixture for a chair, comprising: a chair platform adapted to be received on a floor, said chair platform having an upper portion in the form of a sheet metal base, said base having laterally spaced, parallel, upright confining flanges; a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, sheet metal rocker members adapted to be attached to the bottom of said chair, said rocker members having upright webs with lower portions; arcuate flanges extending transversely outwardly from said lower portions of said webs and having convex outer faces supported on said base for rocking movement of said chair on said platform, said arcuate flanges being `adjacent and inward of said confining flanges for limiting lateral movement of said rocker member on said base; inwardly extending protrusions integral in said confining flanges and overlying and selectively engaging respective arcuate flanges and defining stops for engaging respective arcuate flanges to limit rocking movement of said chair on said platform,

the spacing between inner extremities of said protrusions being less than the corresponding spacing between outer 5 extremities of said arcuate flanges adjacent said protrusions for retaining said rocker members on said base; second flanges extending transversely inwardly from said rocker webs and spaced upwardly of said arcuate flanges, said second flanges having means for attaching said rocker members `to said chair; third flanges extending transversely upwardly from said second flanges; pairs of spiral springs for each of said rocker members, opposite ends of the springs of each pair engaging the respective second flange and said base for urging said chair into an upright position; cooperating means on each of said second and third flanges anchoring adjacent ends of said springs on respective rocker members; and means anchoring adjacent ends of said springs on said base.

6. A sheet metal rocker member for furniture, comprising: a web; flanges extending transversely from said web in opposite directions, one of said flanges being arcuate and having a convex outer face.

7. A rocker member comprising: a web having opposite edge portions; a flange on each of said edge portions, the flanges extending transversely in opposite directions from said web, a first of said flanges being arcuate with a convex outer face; and means on a second of said flanges for attaching said rocker member to a chair.

8. A sheet metal rocker member for attachment to furniture, comprising: a web having opposite edge p0rtions; a flange on each of said edge portions, the flanges extending transversely in opposite directions from said web, a first of said flanges being arcuate and having a convex outer face, a second of said flanges having means for attaching said rocker member to said furniture; a third flange on said second flange and extending therefrom in a direction generally away from said first flange; and cooperating means including said second and third flanges for anchoring a spring.

9. A rocker xture for furniture, comprising: a base having laterally spaced confining flanges; a pair of rocker members each having a web and flanges extending transversely from said web in opposite directions, one of said flanges of each rocker member being arcuate and having a convex outer face supported on said base, the arcuate flanges being located, one adjacent each of said confining flanges; and an abutment on said base overlying and selectively engaging at least one rocker member for limiting rocking movement of said rocker members.

10. A rocker fixture for furniture, comprising: a base having laterally spaced confining flanges; a pair of rocker members each having a web and flanges extending transversely from said web in opposite directions, one of said flanges of each rocker member being arcuate and having a convex outer face supported on said base, said arcuate flanges being located, one adjacent each of said confining flanges; means on a second of each of said rocker member flanges for attaching said rocker member to a part of the furniture; abutments on said base overlying and selectively engaging said rocker members, said confining flanges and abutments limiting lateral and rocking movement of said rocker members; and means urging said rocker members to a predetermined centered position.

11. A rocker fixture for furniture, comprising: a base having laterally spaced confining flanges; a pair of rocker members each having a web and flanges extending transversely from said web in opposite directions, one of said flanges of each rocker member being arcuate and having a convex outer face supported on said base for free rocking movement of the rocker members through a substantial arc, said arcuate flanges being located between said confining flanges, and one adjacent each of said confining flanges; means on a second of each of said rocker mem- 75 ber flanges for attaching said rocker members to a part of the furniture; abutments on said base overlying and selectively engaging said rocker members, said conning anges limiting lateral movement of said rocker members and said abutments limiting the arc rocking movement of said rocker members; and springs between said confining flanges urging said rocker members to a predetermined centered position.

12. A sheet metal rocker member for furniture, comprising: a web; flanges extending transversely from said web, one of said anges being arcuate and having a convex outer face.

13. A rocker member comprising: a web having opposite edge portions; an arcuate flange on one of said edge portions, said ange having a convex outer face; and means comprising a second flange on the other edge portion of said web for attaching said rocker member to a chair.

14. A rocker fixture for furniture comprising: a base having laterally spaced confining flanges; a pair of rocker members having arcuate flanges with convex outer faces supported on said base between said confining anges for rocking movement of said members through a substantial arc; and resilient means between said confining flanges urging said rocker members to a predetermined centered position.

15. A rocker `fixture for furniture comprising: a base having laterally spaced conlining ilanges; a pair of rocker members having arcuate anges with convex outer faces supported on said base between said conining anges for rocking movement of said rocker member through a substantial are; and resilient means between said conning anges for resisting rocking movement and urging said rocker members to a predetermined centered position.

16. A rocker fixture for furniture comprising: a base having opposed spaced apart margins and a pair of conning flanges extending outwardly in the same direction from said margins; a pair of rocker members having arcuate flanges with convex outer faces supported on said base between said confining anges for rocking movement through a substantial arc, said flanges extending outwardly in opposite directions from the respective webs and toward the adjacent confining flange; spiral springs between said rocker members and seated between said rocker members and base resiliently resisting rocking movement and urging said rocker members to a predetermined centered position; means for attaching said rocker member to the furniture; and abutment means on said conning anges overlying and selectively engaging said rocker members for limiting the arc of rocking movement of said rocker members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS `1,154,021 Hunzinger Sept. 21, 1915 1,244,389 Stockwell Oct. 23, 1917 2,096,437 Potter Oct. 19, 1937 2,625,983 Slyter et al. Jan. 20, 1953 2,871,916 Fox Feb. 3, 1959 2,959,210 Pearlstine Nov. 8, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 617,530 Germany Aug. 21, 1935 

